A massive, perfectly camouflaged African viper with the longest fangs of any snake, lying motionless in leaf litter for weeks at a time.
Description
The Gaboon viper is an enormously thick-bodied snake reaching 1.5 m but weighing over 8 kg, with a vast triangular head and a back patterned in interlocking geometric shapes of buff, tan, brown, and purple that mimic fallen leaves perfectly. Its fangs reach 5 cm, longer than any other snake.
Behavior
A slow-moving ambush predator, the Gaboon viper may stay in one coiled position for weeks awaiting prey. Strikes are sudden but the snake then waits while venom works on the swallowed animal. Its bite delivers a huge volume of venom and is among the most dangerous in Africa, though bites are rare.
Range
Distributed across the rainforests of central Africa from Guinea east to Tanzania and south to northern South Africa. A separate species, the Rhinoceros viper, occupies similar habitats in West Africa and was formerly considered a subspecies.
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Gaboon Viper starts with G and ends with R. Browse other snakes along the same letter.
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